Press Release: Sadler’s Wells Digital Stage Launches Motion Picture: New Collaborations in Dance and Film

[Jan McNulty]

Sadler’s Wells Digital Stage Launches Motion Picture: New Collaborations in Dance and Film    Sadler’s Wells Digital Stage presents a new series of short films pairing top choreographers and filmmakers, launching on Thursday 8 June.  Motion Picture: New Collaborations in Dance and Film opens with Olivier Award-winning Botis Seva and Brazilian director Douglas Bernardt’s Inside the Blind Iris; and Air de Temps by two-time NYDC Guest Artistic Director Alesandra Seutin and Ben Williams.    Inside the Blind Iris uses body language, light, camera work and graphic design to tell a story of oppression and the absence of belonging. The dancers evoke spirits haunting the main character in his journey of self-discovery.    Botis Seva’s distinct language of hip hop, physical theatre and contemporary dance has placed him at the forefront of dance in the UK and internationally. Borrowing techniques from film, text, art and other dance languages, Seva’s focus is on making a societal difference and using his own experiences to drive narratives. His production BLKDOG was most recently at Sadler’s Wells in autumn 2022.    Raised in his parents’ video rental store in Brazil, Douglas Bernardt has worked with artists including Arlo Parks, Nego Bala, Masego, Gregory Porter and Tom Misch. His short film for Baco Exu do Blues received the 2019 Cannes Lions Grand Prix and his experimental short for Nego Bala was awarded at Cannes in 2022 for Entertainment for Music.    Air de Temps is set in the coastal town of Bargny in Senegal. It tells of an urgent need to speak out, to delve into lost dreams and confront demons. The film is a response to the in-process theatre work Air de Temps for the Jant-Bi II company based at École des Sables, Senegal, and artistically led by Alesandra Seutin and Wesley Ruzibiza.    Alesandra Seutin is an award-winning multidisciplinary performance artist and creator, whose focus is on exploring movement as a foundation for theatre, media and site-specific works. The daughter of South African and Belgian parents, Alesandra was born in Zimbabwe and calls herself ‘Afropean’. An inspirational leader with a multifaceted career spanning two decades, she has reached a global audience through her work.    Ben Williams’ work has been screened at festivals and has included commissions from the BBC. Driven by a desire to capture beautiful aesthetics, he taps into human emotion and stories in his films. He is a regular collaborator with Sadler’s Wells, including creating films for National Youth Dance Company and Breakin’ Convention.    Motion Picture: New Collaborations in Dance and Film is supported by Van Cleef & Arpels    Inside the Blind Iris and Air de Temps will be available for free on Sadler’s Wells Digital Stage from Thursday 8 June. The films are 10 – 15 mins long and are paired with a seven-minute behind-the-scenes film of each.    Premiere film screening: Wednesday 7 June at 7.45 pm, Lilian Baylis Studio.   The screening will include a behind-the-scenes film and a Q&A with some of the artists.    Notes to editors: About Sadler’s Wells     Sadler's Wells is a world-leading dance organisation. We strive to make and share dance that inspires us all. Our acclaimed year-round programme spans dance of every kind, from contemporary to flamenco, Bollywood to ballet, salsa to street dance and tango to tap.   We commission, produce and present more dance than any other organisation in the world. Since 2005, we have helped to bring more than 200 new dance works to the stage, embracing both the popular and the unknown. Our acclaimed productions tour the world. Since 2005 we’ve produced 64 new full-length works and performed to audiences of more than two million, touring to 51 countries.     Each year, over half a million people visit our three London theatres - Sadler’s Wells Theatre, Lilian Baylis Studio and Peacock Theatre. Millions more attend our touring productions nationally and internationally or explore our digital platforms, including Sadler’s Wells Digital Stage. In 2024 we’re opening a fourth London venue in Stratford’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Sadler’s Wells East will house a 550-seat mid-scale theatre, as well as facilities for the Choreographic School and Hip Hop Theatre Academy.     Supporting artists is at the heart of our work. We have associate artists and companies, which nurture some of the most exciting talent working in dance today. We host the National Youth Dance Company, which draws together some of the brightest young dancers from across the country. Sadler’s Wells Breakin' Convention runs professional development programmes to champion and develop the world’s best hip hop artists, as well as producing, programming and touring groundbreaking hip hop performances.     Around 30,000 people take part in our learning and engagement programmes every year. We support schools local to our theatres in Islington and Stratford, designing experiences for children and young people to watch, explore and critically engage with the arts. We also run Company of Elders, a resident performance company of dancers aged over 60 who rehearse with renowned artists to make new work for public performances locally, nationally and internationally.     Sadler’s Wells is an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation.     www.sadlerswells.com   Stay up to date with everything Sadler’s Wells on social media    Facebook: @SadlersWells    Twitter: @Sadlers_Wells    Instagram: @sadlers_wells    YouTube: Sadler’s Wells Theatre

[Peanut68]

I did read this & at first & assumed it was a collaboration with Matthew Bourne… using words ‘motion picture’ in title perhaps a little distracting…? 
But reading through I see it’s a very broad & interesting mix! 

Edited May 16, 2023 by Peanut68